Miscellaneous material to start your week.- John Quiggin examines – and refutes – a few key complaints about fairer taxes on the wealthy. But Kathryn May reports that the Cons are eager to use public resources to investigate and punish public servants … . . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links

For the most part, Joan Bryden’s report signals that there isn’t much controversy left arising out of Alexandre Boulerice’s comments about niqabs in the civil service. But it’s worth asking whether the trial balloon floated by Boulerice serves any purpose whatsoever: Martin added that he has no problem with Boulerice’s suggestion that a pan-Canadian commission . . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: On dividing lines

So Pat Martin arrives in the HOC today looking disgruntled, uncomfortable. In the middle of this morning’s session, during a vote on a motion to salute Canada’s Crappie fishermen, he sneaks out, comes back a little bit later…at ease and smiling! Turns out his underwear was too tight, but they’re better now! So what happened . . . → Read More: BigCityLib Strikes Back: The Pat Martin Affair: Straight Talk, Lost Gonch

– Bruce Livesey discusses Tony Blair’s role in corporatizing social democracy. And Stephen Elliott-Buckley writes that there’s little reason to listen to the policy prescriptions of a financial elite class which is conspicuously ensuring that its future bears no resemblance to that of the general population.

A typical member of the Alberta Twitterati, pretty much any time of year except yesterday. Your blogger and other renowned Wild Rose Country Twittarians may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Daveberta author Dave Cournoyer, apparently Tweeting.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, not pictured because he’s pretty well disappeared, has heeded the touristic lure South America, illustrated above. Below: Canadian Parliamentarian Joan Crockatt and U.S. Representative Davy Crockett. Note to Globe and Mail: There is a difference! Below them: Allaudin Merali.

Victor Toews, Canada’s Minister of Public Insecurity and Zombification, rendered by Edmonton artist William Prettie. Below, a shifty looking Mr. Toews as he appears in the halls of Parliament. Pat Martin is a Great Canadian. ™

What a perfect way to throw a little red meat to your gun-nut money machine!

Golly. I have no idea why Pat Martin called the Cons rat faced whores.Martin launched into a Twitter tirade for the ages Wednesday night, calling the Conservative Party “rat faced whores” and attacking Public Safety Minister Vic Toews’ personal life to express his displeasure over not being invited to an announcement for a local . . . → Read More: Montreal Simon: Pat Martin and the Rat Faced Cons

So it was that MP Charlie Angus, the NDP’s self-appointed guardian of civility, has declared that Twitter has “turned us all into 14-year-olds in a cafeteria” where “[e]verybody gets to be a Grade 9 girl.”

Yesterday’s context, of course, was Patrick Brazeau’s calling reporter Jen Ditchburn a “bitch” because she wrote an article that mentioned . . . → Read More: In defence of 14-year-old girls

Alright, what longstanding Canadian institution shall we dispense with today?

Queen Elizabeth II has been all over the news of late in honour of her Diamond Jubilee. Never satisfied, some of those rabble-rousing muckrakers in the NDP have refused to join in the festivities. That killjoy Pat Martin in particular, MP for Winnipeg Centre, is . . . → Read More: Song of the Watermelon: Retiring the Monarchy

First, on the Racknine suit against Martin and the NDP…NDP MP Pat Martin issued an apology yesterday for the statements he made regarding Racknine when the issue appeared in the news around late February. His apology was unequivocal, offering no defence, making it appear to be an attempt to mitigate damages in the lawsuit. Note . . . → Read More: Impolitical: 24 hours in legal politics

Many of you will remember yesterdays post about John Fryer, the UVic professor who wrote a letter to the editor of the Globe and Mail about the two day Manning Center intensive campaign course he attended where-in he allegidly had heard about Robocalls and voter suppression. Turns out the group that Fryer had claimed were . . . → Read More: Firms Use #CPC Tactics To Halt Bad PR

Hundreds of people, including members of parliament, rights activists and average citizens, are expected on Parliament Hill at noon tomorrow to protest the unfolding Robo-calls election scandal. Renowned activist Brigette Depape (pictured) and MPs Pat …Read More

Hundreds of people, including members of parliament, rights activists and average citizens, are expected on Parliament Hill at noon tomorrow to protest the unfolding Robo-calls election scandal. Renowned activist Brigette Depape (pictured) and MPs Pat …Read More

The New Democratic Party (NDP) suggested in a press conference today that the Conservatives rigged the May 2011 federal election against the Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Liberals. Call it election rigging western style. Apparently, RackNine …Read More

Fine, thank you. Spending is up 22 percent the last five years. Pot busts were up 14 percent in 2010. Harper’s tantrum wins an expensive new shiny paint job on the VIP airbus. Closure has been used six times in 33 days to stifle debate, much to the delight of the Conservative media.